Must Haves for a Sick Baby or Toddler

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Guys… it’s been a long 6 days. Poor Ben has his first illness and it has been rough. He had a fever Friday during the afternoon and it spiked that night. Luckily it stayed low enough through the night that we didn’t have to go to the ER, and he was able to just visit his doctor on Saturday. His ears were clear and his strep test was negative so he had to have blood work done at the hospital. Luckily he was negative for mycoplasma (pneumonia) and his white blood cell level was okay, so he did not have to be admitted to the hospital for fluids. One of the panels they ran just indicated he had an infection of some kind. So he has his first antibiotic and is on the mend! Yay!

In honor of Ben’s first illness, I wanted to do a new round up of the items we keep on hand for a sick baby (or toddler!). These are all things we like to keep on hand, as the majority of them have a rather long shelf-life (with the exception of the Pedialyte). There are few things worse than having your kiddo wake up with a fever at 1AM and not having tylenol on hand!

1 | Nose Frida: So this seems gross, but when you have a congested little baby it doesn’t matter. Please note: there is a little filter between the base and the tube, so you will NOT get anything in your mouth. Seriously. You won’t. And it’ll help clear out your little one’s nose so they’ll breathe easier.

2 | Resinol: This medicine is available over-the-counter at the pharmacy (typically at Walgreens) and really helps stubborn diaper rash. We all know the unpleasant side-effects of antibiotics include lots of dirty diapers, which means diaper rash. It works better than any diaper rash cream I’ve bought.

3 | Pedialyte: This can help keep (or rehydrate) your little one whether they’re sick, or not. It comes in a ton of flavors so there is sure to be one your little likes.

4 | Humidifier: I LOVE this humidifier. It works great and it’s cute. Running it in the room where your little one sleeps can help battle congestion.

5 | Infant Tylenol (Acetaminophen): Acetaminophen is the only medicine you can use on babies until they reach a certain age (our pediatrician says no other pain relievers until after the age of six months). It is still what we use on Blaire, at three-years-old. She has always prefered the grape to cherry.

6 | Be Kool Gel Sheets: These cool, gel strips stick on your child (forehead, chest, back) and it help to cool them down when they have a fever. Blaire has always seemed to like them when she has a fever. Since they’re so cool, she usually does a cute little shiver when I first put them on, and then doesn’t mess with them.

7 | Water Wipes: These wipes are great for every day, but especially great for diaper rash. They are 99.9% water (.1% fruit extract), so there is no alcohol on them which can be painful on diaper rash.

8 | Thermometer: We love the temporal scanner thermometer because it’s easy to take a temp without waking your baby or toddler.

9 | Saline Spray: You spray a little in to your child’s nostril (it loosens any mucus that’s there) and then you quickly suck it out. If you don’t suck it out quickly enough, then it will push that gross stuff down your child’s throat – which may also happen if the congestion is wayyy back there. Either way, you’re making it easier for them to breathe.

10 | Boogie Wipes: These are awesome once your kiddo’s nose starts to run. You’ll be wiping it a lot, so these wipes their little nose from getting red and irritated.

There’s my list! While I hope your little one is always healthy, I also want you to be a prepared mama in the event they do come down with something. What do you keep in the medicine cabinet for your little one?

I am not a medical professional and I am not giving medical advice. Please contact your child’s pediatrician with any questions you may have, as they can give you information specific to your own child’s needs.